Abstract

Midwives, and midwifery managers in particular, have been set up to fail. The publication of the Winterton Report created considerable excitement and a sense of relief, that after a long and arduous struggle, the maternity services would at last be changed to meet the needs of mothers and give midwives the professional standing and rewards which they deserved. The Government's response was at first muted, it appeared that delaying tactics would be used to dilute or divest the report of any significant value, and yet another committee was established. [Extract from the article's introduction]